Demographic characteristics of RN and generic students: implications for curriculum

The overwhelming majority of nurses today continue to be prepared at the diploma or associate degree level despite the call of nursing leadership to make the BSN degree the minimum credential for entry into practice. Substantial numbers of registered nurses return to school for a BSN. The purpose of the study was to compare and contrast certain demographic characteristics of RN students with the generic BSN student enrolled in the same program. All junior and senior baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in California colleges and universities which admit RN students to NLN-accredited generic baccalaureate nursing degree programs comprised the study population. There were 3,421 students in the total designated population available for sampling. Of these, 251 actually participated in the study. Findings and implications for Nursing Educators are discussed within the context of the manuscript.